Dave Hyde: 10 simple steps to improve the Dolphins (bring aspirin)

Before we get going with the annual master plan of how to fix the Miami Dolphins in 10 simple steps: Do you realize the lay-up they've handed me this year? How easy this becomes the stated plan to lose from owner Steve Ross?

If the plan is to lose, and they end up losing a lot, does that mean the coming season is a success?

It's all making my head spin more than it usually does during Dolphins offseasons. Look, it's good the Dolphins realize they're not close to contending in the manner they typically do to Band-Aid problems. There are major issues. And they're facing them.

That's good. But be careful. It's a slippery slope from embracing one bad season to turning into the Cleveland Browns with endless losing years.

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1. Either trade (think positive) or say goodbye to quarterback Ryan Tannehill as a designated post-June 1 cut. It hasn't worked for seven years. By designating him as a post-June 1 cut, the Dolphins will create $18.75 million in cap space. Which sounds nice. But they're not going to spend it, so it really just sounds nice.

2. Strategically trade Xavien Howard if you're not drafting a quarterback this spring. Howard is the best player on Team Teardown. He'd be the most expensive, too, at north of $15 million a year with a needed, new deal. At 25, he is in his prime. Of the eight Pro Bowl cornerbacks this year, one was 29. Do the timeline math, add in football risk and moving him is the best option. But don't just trade Howard for a first-round pick (if Amari Cooper is worth one in midseason, Howard is worth more). Trade him to a team that could be bad in 2019 and give you a top-half draft pick in 2020. Washington (big dream: packaged with Tannehill)? Tampa Bay? The New York Giants? Double-down on being assured of a quarterback in the 2020 draft (trading up with this pick, if necessary) or of another good, young player.

3. Make the other common-sense cuts. That means anyone who can't play up to their contract due to deteriorating talent, injury, age, timeline or money. Andre Branch ($7 million), Robert Quinn ($12.9M), Josh Sitton ($5M), Akeem Spence ($3.25M), and DeVante Parker ($9.3M for a fifth-year option). I like Ja'Wuan James. But he'll make his money elsewhere as he doesn't fit this rebuild. Now comes the big headache and ...

4. ... that's cutting Reshad Jones when health allows. If winning mattered next year, Jones would be kept despite another shoulder surgery which he announced Friday. But winning isn't the first issue and Jones cut himself by quitting against the New York Jets last season. Throw in the injury and him being regularly late to meetings and you've got the kind of headache you don't hand a new coach. The real problem here is Adam Gase was allowed more control after the 2016 playoff season and rewarded players with dumb contracts. Jones is Exhibit A with $11 million of his $13 million guaranteed for 2019. Another $4 million of his $11.5 million contract for 2020 gets guaranteed on the third day of the new league year in March. Pass the aspirin. But if this is a new start, make it one.

5. Sign free-agent quarterback Tyrod Taylor. He's a solid pro who won't cost a lot and, hopefully, matches Miami's thoughts on the coming mobile quarterback in Kyler Murray this draft or Tua Tagovailoa next draft. Option B: A more popular and more expensive Teddy Bridgewater, who could be a bridge to a drop-back passer like Justin Herbert or Jake Fromm in next year's draft.

6. Re-sign Laremy Tunsil and Cameron Wake. Sure, Tunsil came in the same draft as Howard, but there's two differences: 1) Tackles play longer than cornerbacks, and (2) You need him to protect your future quarterback, whoever that is and whenever you get him. Building the offensive line is Mission No. 2 behind getting a quarterback. Wake? A good pro who, if he wants back, is welcome at the right price.

7. Bring back the retro uniforms full-time. My old-fashioned thought is anyone over 18 doesn't give uniforms more than a quick, once-over of thumbs up or down. But enough Dolphins fans go crazy over this I'm hoping to divert their attention to anything painless.

8. Don't sign anyone just to change "culture." The coach sets the culture. Yes, some good veterans will help. But this is Brian Flores' job by the standards he sets and decisions he makes. The Gase era went sideways when he began looking for other people to set his culture for him. If you can't do that, you're not a head coach.

9. Don't sign anyone in the first week of free agency. Or over 29 years old to be more than a one-year stop-gap. Or off the Pittsburgh Steelers. Or any of the other ways the Dolphins have screwed up with free agency in the past two decades.

10. Cross your fingers on the draft. The Dolphins could use some luck as they take this ambitious road. I'm not a fan of tanking. Again, it's a slippery slope to being Cleveland Browns and getting stuck for years. Then again, if my plan fails, that's a win, right?